Separable-link chain



Feb. 3. 1925. v 1,524,981

J. C. LAW

SEPARABLE LINK CHAIN Filed Oct. 1921 6? Sheets-Sheet 1 Juzzes a Law Feb. 3. 1925- 1,524,981 J. c. LAW

SEPARA-BLE LINK CHAIN Filed Oct. 4, 1921 L'ZSheets-Sheet .2

Zlmwxkoz Jiwws 6. Law,

Patented Feb. 3, 1925.

JAMES C. LAW, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

SEPARABLE-LINK CHAIN.

Application filed October 4, 1921. Serial Nb. 505,368.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known. that I, JAMES C. Law, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in separable- Link Chains, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to separable link chains of the bar type, wherein separation is effected by removal of a bolt, pin, or like device, in contradistinction to those which may be separated upon moving connected links to abnormal position.

The objects sought are: To produce a chain suitable for use in carriers, conveyors, scrapers, and similar structures, and as drive chains, which shall be simple in con .st-ruction and of great strength for given weight of material, and which shall have large bearing surfaces at all points subject to wear, so that the chain may be durable, and eflicient in action. Other features will be noted in the course of the following description.

With these objects in view a construction has been devised wherein each link or bar carries at one end a box or coupler, preferably of D-form or having a semicircular or arcuate flange or wall forming a seat or bearing for a s milarly shaped head of the companion link, the box or coupler being completed by a second section or cover, socured to the first by a bolt, pin, or like fastening or fastenings. One section of the box or coupler may be made integral with the bar or link, or suitably attached thereto, while the other or cover section is readily detachable from the first to permit the semicircular head of the companion link to be withdrawn from the box-like coupler when necessary.

The preferred construction is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shortsect-ion of chain embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 a sim lar View, with parts separated to show the details of construction;

Fig. 3 a side elevation of one of the chain joints with the cover section of the connecting box or coupler removed, a flight-bracket or carrier being also shown in position;

Fig. 4; a perspective view of two links or bars and an intermediate box or coupler,

with two flight-brackets or-carriers in place thereon, as viewed from the front or advanc ing face;

Fig. 5a similar view, looking from the rear Fig. 6 a perspective view of one of the flight brackets detached;

Fig. 7 a-perspective view of an insertable wearing strip.

As best seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the chain 1s made up of straight bars 1, preferably, though not necessarily of rectangular cross section, each provided at one end with a heavy head or enlargement 2 of substantially semicircular form, and of a width or meas urement at a right angle to the thickness of the bar, considerably greater than such thickness, so that it projects beyond both side faces of the bar.

3 indicates a box-like coupler of substantially D-form in outline, and having on one side face a projecting flange or overhang 4 of considerable thickness,conforming to the contour of the member 3.

The side wall and flange together produce a box or housing, which is completed by a substantially duplicate cover e member 5.

cured against withdrawal.

In the drawings I have shown a bolt, 8, which is headed at one end to bear against the outer face of one member, and is threaded at the other end to receive a nut 9 which bears against the outer face of the other member, and serves to press and hold the two firmly together. A cotter pin 10 may be used in lieu of or in addition to the. nut if desired.

Such pin is shown in Fig. 1 outside the nut 9, where it will prevent the nut from unscrewing or working off. If used without the nut, it will of course be located close to the wall of the box or head 3, with a washer 22 between.

To afford clear space for the pin or bolt 8, the head 2 is made of arcuate form, or with a recess 11 coaxial with the semicircular bearing face of head 2, and preferably of larger radius than the pin or bolt 8, so that it shall not bear normally on said pin or bolt. Said pin or bolt is thus relieved of any stress or wear incident to the movements of or to the stresses brought upon the links or bars 1.

To afford adequate movement of 'thebar 1 and head 2 relatively to the coupler 35, the overhang'of both membersS-and 5 'o'f'the coupler is cut away between the points 12 and 13 (Figs.'2 and 3),to a depth equal toone halfthe thickness of bar orlink 1, or slightly more, so that a relative movement of the bar or link and coupler may take place about the aXis'of'the-curved portion of flange 4tand head 2, which in the embodiment illustrated would be coincident with the axis of pin or boltS. The opposite end of each bar or link, that is to say, the end remote from the arcuate head 2, may be made integral with the box-like coupler member 3, or a-s'is preferred, may be provided with a T-head 14;;projecting past the side faces and upper and lower edges of the bar 1, asplainl-y shown in "Figs. 2 and 3. For convenience and'cheapness of construction it is preferred'to make-the member f the coupler separate and distinct from the link, as of course the cover section 5 will be in any event.

T he headll is of-the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the face opposed to thehead 2 of the companion link being beveled on lines substantially radial to the axis of movement of said head'2, sothat one'orthe other of the radial taces of the head 2 shall, when the maximum relative movement of the link and coupler occurs, lie substantially parallel with one or the other beveled. face of the head l-t, and if desired {may make contact therewith thus limiting" the relative play of the coupler and link. This limitation may, however, be effected by the walls 12 and '13 whiclr form the upper and lower limits of the cut-away portion of thefianges or overhangs t of the coupler members. To permit the introduction of the T=headl4sof the link or bar into thecoupler 35, the straight wall ofeach member of the coupler is provided with a recess l5, seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and t, of a size to receive and somewhat closely fit the'bar or link 1.

A succession of links or'bars and intermediate couplers being connected in the man ner indicated. and made secure by the pins or bolts 8, the chain is adapted for use as a simple driving chain. To adapt it for use as a carrier, conveyor, scrape-r, elevator, or the like, I provide it with brackets or supporting plates 16, one form of which is shown in Figs. 8, at, 5 and 6. These plates or bracket members may be "varied inform and dimensions as required by the particular service for which the chain is intended, and brackets of different form may be interchangeably employed and applied to the chain. Each bracket will comprise a plate or cheek piece 7 conforming more or less closely to the contour of the outer face of the coupler members 35, provided with a hole 18, with a'rib 19 to bear orrest upon the upper faceof the coupler members 35 with the parts in the position shown, and with a lug or foot-piece 20 to "bearag'ainst the straight front face o'f the' coupler andto rest upon theuppe'r face'of the linker bar 1, as indicated in Figs. 8, a and 5. The brackets will be provided with wings 21 of such form and dimensions asbest suited to the parttobeattached to orcarried bythem. The brackets are applied to the side; faces of the coupler and are held in placebythe: bolt '8, which passes through them as well as through the coupler proper. The brackets illustrated in'the drawing are designed more particularly for carrying boards, flights or -scrapers,either-on a single chain or a plu i ality of'chains arrangedparallel one to -anotlher,'the wings 21 being shown. with perfo rations to receive boltsby which to fasten such braces or flights to them. here two or more chains are arranged parallel to each other and driven by sprocket "wheels'inlike number, the boards, flights, or like attachments! will be fastened to the brackets 'ofthe several chains; in other wo1"cls,-will-extend "from-chain to chain transversely to the line 'oi' travelftliereof. The usual conveyor buck- 'etsa'nd similar attachments of. common form may be carried in the well-known manner, 'upon bars,'rods orother supports extending between thebrackets of the respective chains.

The bolts 8 maylikewise be used'to carry attachments of any usual type.

By the construction above (lQSC1llJCCl,"iI1

which only one end of each link has play or movement relatively-to the coupler, the cost of fitting and finishlng the rubbing or'wear- 'ing surfaces of a chain is materially lessened -as compared with a CODStIUClLlOIL in which both links have such play, and since play adequate to a proper bending of thechainit'o pass about the sprockets is provided"under the construction shown, it will obviously function as well as ac'hain in which both links haye movement within or reiatively to the coupler,

Owing tot-he large wearing sur f'a'ces'the wear will hel quiteslow, but such asnray oocur may be: readily compensated for by in troducing into each of the members of the coupler a steel wearing strip 23, which-may be sprung or bent to the form shown in Fig.

in, passing from the upper end of the straight inner wall around the curved portion thereof, and finally to the lower end of said straight wall, as indicated in Fig. 3.

The parts maybe made'of any suitable material, and by any usual process or method. Thus the links or bars, coupler sections, and brackets may befcast either of malleable iron or of steel, or may be drop forged, or produced in any ordinary way.

It will be noted that the flange or overhang a of the head 2 may be made as heavy as desired, thus affording great strength in the hinging portion of the structure, and that large wearing surfaces are provided throughout, not only within the coupler box but on the outer faces: thereof, which afiord contact surfaces for engagement with double-flanged sprocket wheel teeth, used to impart motion to the chain, and while the assembled construction of this chain indicates the chain being so driven, it is: obvious that the chain may also be driven by either a single-toothed flanged sprocket wheel (as a single drive), or in like manner, if the chain is operated as a doublestrand convcyer or elevator, so that I do not wish to be limited to the employment of only double-flanged sprockets.

It will be noted that the bearings, being completely housed when the chain is normally operating, permit the lubricant to be held Within the couplers 3, and an oil hole may therefore be provided as at 24, Figs. 1 and 2, for introduction of lubricant, or which lubricant may be inserted through the bolt-hole in the coupler, either before the bolt 3 is inserted and locked, or upon withdrawing such bolt to the extent of allowing insertion of lubricant into the boxlike chamber, without entirely disconnecting the joints.

One of the outstanding advantages of this chain is that, after ordinarily being worn out for service, the bearings may be quickly and cheaply renewed by insertion within the box-like members or couplers 3, of the bushings or wearing strips 23, Fig. 7, of proper thickness to fully restore the chain to normal chain pitch, and to so render the chain serviceable for fully fifty per cent additional life. A single bar chain of this type also precludes the possibility of carrying foreign material of an obstructive character to the head sprocket, to cause the chain or sprocket teeth to break, as not infrequently happens when chain of the two and one-bar type is used.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the 4 and thus made to retain its positionthere several objects stated in the specifications.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is i 1. A chain comprising a series of bar links each provided at one end with an arcuate head and at the opposite end with a T-head,

both integral with the link; and intermedi ate couplers comprising two hollow D- shaped sections each having an overhanging flange on one face cut away to receive the bar links, and a fastening member passing through the two coupler sections and serving to bind them together.

2. A chain comprising a plurality of bar links, each having at one end a flanged arcuate box-like member incapable of movement relatively to the link, and at the other end an integral head of arcuate form, of radius substantially the same as the inner wall of the box-like member and seated in such member of an adjoining link; a cover member of like form matching the first boXlike member; and a bolt passing through the two box-like members and serving to bind the same together.

3. A chain comprising bar links 1 each provided with a T-head 14 and an arcuate head 2 both integral with the link; and a coupler for the proximate ends of each pair of links, consisting of two matching boxlike sections of arcuate form, the matching walls of which are recessed or cut away to receive the bar links and to permit a swinging or oscillating movement of but one of said links.

4. In combination with a plurality of bar links 1 each provided at one end with an arcuate head 2 and at the opposite end with a T-head 14 each integral with the link; a coupler comprising two box-like members each provided with an arcuate flange or overhang 4: cut away to permit the introduction of the bar links between the coupler members and allow play of one of said links, the coupler members being provided respectively with a notch and a projection to enter said notch to maintain them in proper relation; and a fastening 8 passing through both members of the coupler and serving to bind them together.

5. In combination with bar links each having at one end an arcuate head and at the opposite end a. box-like coupling head of similar arcuate form in which the arcuate head of an adjoining link is seated; a cover member for the box-like coupling and corresponding therewith in form; a fastening extending through the coupling members and serving to bind the two together; and replaceable wearing strips seated in the coupler on opposite sides of the bar links between the arcuate head and its seat, and bearing at their ends against the straight Wall oftl e coupler substantially as shown, whereby they are prevented fre-m shifting their position when the chain is in use.

6. In combination with a chain comprising bar links and an intermediate boxdike coupler, a bracket member comprising a plate corresponding in form to the side face of the coupler member, and provided with V projections to engage the top and front face of the coupler and with ahole corresponding to the bolt hole of the coupler; and a bolt or fastening passing through said bracket plate and the coupler and serving to secure the former to the latter.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JAMES C. LAW. 

